Entry Language Requirements

General requirements

Over the past weeks, we have received quite many emails from students inquiring about the minimum English language requirement to study in Europe. If English is the language of instruction of the study program or course you will be studying in Europe, you will be required to prove you have a sufficient level of knowledge of English in order for your application to be accepted. However, what is the minimum English language requirement to study in Europe?

Although the expected level of command of English may vary depending on the school and, above all, the study program or course, the usual average English language requirement you will be required to have to study in Europe is 550 points (paper-based TOEFL test), or 213 points (computer-based TOEFL test), or 79-80 points (Internet-based TOEFL test), or 5.5 - 6.5 score in the IELTS test. If you have not taken either the TOEFL or IELTS tests and you would like to prove your level of knowledge of English with other exams, you will need to prove you have a level of command of English corresponding to the B1/B2 level (intermediate) according to the European language passport.

Please, be advised that the more competitive a course or study program is, the higher the level of knowledge of English will be.

What should you do if you don't meet the minimum English language requirement?

You should always contact the course or program coordinator before you decide not to apply for it. In some cases, schools may be flexible with the language requirement and you may be allowed to improve your language skills while studying

Examinations

In addition to meeting the general eligibility requirements, Estonian higher education institutions may also organize specific exams to determine whether the candidate possess the adequate level of knowledge required to successfully complete the study program or course. For example, an institution may organize a test in mathematics for students applying for mathematical courses.At academies of art and design, candidates are usually requested to show a portfolio with the material created, which will be taken into consideration when evaluating the application for the study place requested.

Language requirements for studies at universities in Estonia

Estonian

The language of instruction at higher education in Estonia is the Estonian. However, most of Estonian universities and colleges offer study programs and courses in English or afford foreign students the opportunity to learn Estonian while studying their degree.

English

If English is not your first language, you are required to prove your level of command of the English language through the results you received from your studies at upper secondary school or through the results you received at the TOEFL or IELTS tests.

The levels of command of English vary depending on the study program or course you are enrolling in. Therefore, we recommend you check with your institution if your studies of English from upper secondary school are sufficient to meet the English language requirement or you need to take the TOEFL or IELTS tests.

Admission to the majority of undergraduate studies (first cycle) in Estonia is subject to the fulfillment of a minimum grade point requirement. This is the grade point you receive after passing your upper secondary school studies in combination with the grades you receive at the university entry examinations in your home country. Therefore, always check with your Estonian university about the minimum grade point you need to obtain.